University of South Florida home page

USF Main Links: A-Z Index | Campus Directory | Calendars | Search

USF Home > College of The Arts > Institute for Research in Art

Breaking Barriers logo

 

STILL in MOTION

ONLINE PRESENTATION

Still in Motion Home  //  Leslie Elsasser - Introduction  //  Selina Roman - Mind Currents  //  Christian Cortes

PHOTOGRAPHY
Roxi Cato - US Army  //  Wildalys Class - US Air Force  //  Agustin Collazo Jr. - US Navy and Marine Corps  //  Michael Congdon - US Army  //  Giovanna Delacruz - US Air Force  //  Amanda Dodd - US Army  //  Dawn S. Hargrett - US Navy  //  Evan Fountain - US Air Force  //  Mark Freeman - US Army  //  Robert Kidney - US Coast Guard  //  Mikko Maki - US Marine Corps  //  Alicia Morales - US Army  //  RaeAnne Swanson - US Air Force

VIDEO
James Alexander - US Air Force  //  Wildalys Class - US Air Force  //  Dwight English - US Army  //  Loretta Fields - US Army  //  Mikko Maki - US Marine Corps  //  Matias - US Marine Corps

 

Agustin Collazo Jr., Through the Captain’s Spyglass, 2021

Agustin Collazo Jr., Through the Captain’s Spyglass, 2021

AGUSTIN COLLAZO Jr. - US NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

Through the Captain’s Spyglass

The still life photograph Through the Captain’s Spyglass is a selection of items I consider significant and represent key moments in my life. As you look at the photo you will see a Marine Corps coin, a US intelligence coin, a Naval Officer hat (called a “cover” in the military), a coin from the USS Eisenhower Strike Group and the American flag. All of which hold special meaning to me.

A crystal sphere was used to create the spyglass effect. This added a small amount of distortion to the photo, but I feel that it truly brought everything into focus. The measured and precise placement of all items was key to the effect you see.

My idea is to show military pride. I am very proud of my time serving our country in both the Marine Corps and the Navy which are represented by the coin and hat. I’m also very proud of my wife Marlene’s active duty service in the US Navy. The Eisenhower Strike Group coin is representative of her service, and of a time in my life filled with nothing but worry. She deployed in 2016 with the Eisenhower Strike Group to the Middle East and I found myself praying every day for her safe return. A feeling I truly never understood before as I was the one who was always deploying.

Overall, I truly enjoyed diving into the still life aspect of photography and developing my own artistic process. This art form gave me the opportunity to explore and be creative. Limited only by your imagination, the possibilities are endless.

 I’m a photographer, I’m an artist, and I’m a proud US military veteran. Godspeed.

AGUSTIN COLLAZO Jr.
US NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

 

Agustin Collazo Jr., Reflected Memories, 2021

Agustin Collazo Jr., Reflected Memories, 2021

Agustin Collazo Jr., Time in a bottle, 2021

Agustin Collazo Jr., Time in a bottle, 2021

 


 

For more information:
Email Leslie Elsasser at lelsasse@usf.edu

Breaking Barriers is a project by USFCAM in collaboration with the USF School of Art and Art History, with Support from the USF Office of Veterans Success, Community Arts Impact Grant Program of the Arts Council of Hillsborough County, Love IV Lawrence 2020 Waves of Change Grant, and additional support from the ACE Arts for Community Engagement Fund and the Florida Department of State.